CE Chapel of Merton College, Oxford Wed, 3rd Nov [L]

[DracoM]

CE Chapel of Merton College, Oxford Wed, 3rd Nov [L]


Order of Service:


Introit: The souls of the righteous (Vaughan Williams)
Responses: Smith
Psalms 111, 112, 116 (Randall, Day, Camidge)
First Lesson: Proverbs 3: 27-35
Canticles: Howells in B minor
Second Lesson: Matthew 18: 21-35
Anthem: The House of the Mind (Howells)

Voluntary: Psalm-Prelude Set 1 No 3, Op 32 (Howells)

Simon Hogan (Organist)
Kentaro Machida (Organ Scholar)
Benjamin Nicholas (Director of Music)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00113yv

[Alison]

No hymns?

[DracoM]

Reminder: today @ 4 p.m.

[haldeman]

Absolutely brilliant service - terrific to hear the Howells with strings. Well done all!

[ardcarp]

Lovely service. As they had the string-players present...who in fact didn't have much to do....they might have ended the service with something like this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVR12R0qs30

...instead of the organ Psalm Prelude. Or maybe this by Finzi..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjz_Ob-Vfyw

Just a thought.

[jonfan]

Agree with the above comments. Beautiful, rich expressive singing by what sounded like a large body of singers. Whichever Howells setting I’m listening to is my favourite at the time. This B minor is at the moment with its delectable soprano interweaving lines, especially as sung today at Merton.

[DracoM]

[oddoneout]

And having the post-broadcast fill-in of Tallis' "If ye love me" rounded it off nicely. Brought back happy memories as it was a favourite of both choir and congregation in the churches(joint parish) I sang in decades ago.

[Magister Chori]

Very well sung, and with a particular mention for the organ voluntary so sensitively and colourfully played.

[Cockney Sparrow]

And having the post-broadcast fill-in of Tallis' "If ye love me" rounded it off nicely. Brought back happy memories as it was a favourite of both choir and congregation in the churches(joint parish) I sang in decades ago.

Its much sung piece in my (symphonic sized) choir in various settings. A small gem that can be polished - we also use it as a warm up piece now and then. I was only thinking a few days ago, I would ask the MD why he uses it so - I suspect he can hear how the chorus is blending together, listening to each other, and maybe any voices standing out need, err, well - "to be noted" .

I hasten to add, though, this MD is the most balanced, temperamentally I have sung for - pretty much (over decades of singing). And the MD doesn't excercise a reign of terror, even at re-audition time. OTOH demands are made on us and high standards achieved.

[ardcarp]

and with a particular mention for the organ voluntary so sensitively and colourfully played.

Agreed. And my post #5 wasn't in any way meant to imply otherwise!

[ardcarp]

Off topic, but talking about challenging Preces and Responses, why is it that we hardly ever hear Howells' set?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbZUksVitF4

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh2sbiTobQU

I remember a well-known O&C (was it Barry Rose?) telling me they were too much like a concert in themselves.

They are deceptively tricky for both choir and priest to do well.

[jonfan]

This was a very enjoyable evensong to sing. A reminder that the day prior, we also recorded a further evensong to be broadcast next April, which included a new (and quite challenging) set of responses written by Cheryl Frances-Hoad.

It sounded as though everyone was having a good time. Looking forward to April and welcome to the forum.

[Vox Humana]

Off topic, but talking about challenging Preces and Responses, why is it that we hardly ever hear Howells' set?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbZUksVitF4

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh2sbiTobQU

I remember a well-known O&C (was it Barry Rose?) telling me they were too much like a concert in themselves.

They are deceptively tricky for both choir and priest to do well.

I suspect you have put your fingers on the two main reasons. I was once told that they had been banned at Canterbury (a long time ago now) because they were too long. Even in the King's recording you linked the responses take nearly eight minutes. They are wonderful though.

I enjoyed this evensong vary much indeed. The quality was top notch from beginning to end. How different that anthem sounds with strings!

[Miles Coverdale]

Off topic, but talking about challenging Preces and Responses, why is it that we hardly ever hear Howells' set?

Probably because, lovely though they are, they're rather overwritten for the liturgical function they perform.